We're back for the first full week of saintly thrills and spills! Today we get our first matchup in the Mostly Modern quadrant as Anna Alexander faces Peter Claver. Of course it's all relative -- Anna lived in the 19th century and Peter straddled the 16th and 17th centuries. But what's a few hundred years among friends?
On Saturday, Quiteria the nonuplet warrior defeated Genesius in a fairly close battle 54% to 46%. She will go on to face the winner of Thomas à Kempis vs. Maria Skobstova in the Saintly Sixteen.
For those of you who filled out brackets in advance, is it already busted? Or maybe a saint you really wanted to win has lost, causing you to lose all faith in humanity -- or at least in the Lent Madness voting public. Just a reminder -- it's not really about which saints win or lose (they've all received their Golden Halos) -- it's about encountering Jesus through the inspiring lives of those who have come before us in the faith. So buck up! And live to vote another day.
Anna Alexander
Anna Alexander was the first African-American Deaconess of the Episcopal Church. Deaconess Alexander was born around 1865 on Saint Simon’s Island in Georgia. Her parents, James and Daphne Alexander, were well-educated and emancipated slaves. Her father, James, believed education was the path to a better life for the people on the plantation, and he continued to teach Anna and her siblings in defiance of Georgia laws that forbade the education of slaves.
James and Daphne Alexander instilled in their daughter a strong belief in shared and communal responsibility and the idea that change occurs in the relationships built within our communities. As a result, Anna is credited with establishing an Episcopal church and school in Pennick, Georgia. The community initially met in an abandoned farmhouse and then in an old store, where they converted the whiskey counter into an altar. Faced with antiquated diocesan and societal laws, Anna’s mission church struggled financially, and Anna took up sewing, teaching, and other jobs to raise money to purchase land for a permanent church and school. Through her community relationships, she drew upon the financial support of her fellow brothers and sisters. Through their combined efforts, they were able to build the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and school.
At a Convention for Colored Episcopalians in 1907, Bishop C.K. Nelson named Anna a deaconess. During the time of her diaconate, it was virtually unheard of for a woman to be recognized as a leader in the church—especially an African-American woman. Anna’s hard work, devotion, and dedication to the Christian formation of black communities ensured that the voices of African-American Christians were heard throughout the Diocese of Georgia. Deaconess Alexander felt that anger about how society treated women and African-Americans was a wasted emotion and believed she could change her community through education and love. She exhibited this love through a devotion to Christian formation. Deaconess Alexander offers us an example of a life of faith rooted in a boundless love of others.
Deaconess Anna Alexander’s feast day is September 24.
Collect for Anna Alexander
O God, you called Anna Alexander as a deaconess in your Church and sent her as teacher and evangelist to the people of Georgia: Grant us the humility to go wherever you send, and the wisdom to teach the word of Christ to whomever we meet, that all may come to the enlightenment which you intend for your people; through Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior. Amen.
Peter Claver
Times of great evil are often opportunities for profound witness to the love of God. The deep evil of the transatlantic slave trade was just such a time, and it was into that moment in history that Peter Claver, SJ was born in 1580.
During studies in his home country of Spain, Peter joined the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits sent him out to be a part of their mission to the Americas. Peter encountered the horrors of the slave trade and through the tutelage of another Jesuit was introduced to ministry among the Africans who were being trafficked through the port of Cartagena, Colombia.
After being abducted from their homes in Africa, the victims of the slave trade became a commodity to their captors. They were packed inhumanely into ships, fed minimal amounts of food and water, and sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas. During the horrific journey, about a third of all African slaves died.
Each year, 10,000 slaves would arrive in Cartagena. As soon as a slave ship arrived, Peter descended into the hold—into the midst of the sickness, death, and suffering. He brought medicine, food, water, and words of comfort. As the slaves disembarked, Peter continued to minister among them. After six years of this ministry, Claver made his final profession as a Jesuit. He signed his name, “Peter Claver, slave to the Ethiopians [Africans].”
Peter continued his ministry among the slaves of Cartagena for thirty more years. In addition to his time in the port, he often traveled out to plantations so he could continue to care for the slaves.
During his four decades of ministry, Peter baptized at least 300,000 people. His ability to share the Good News of Christ was closely tied to his compassion and care for the physical needs of the victims of slavery. In considering the connection between preaching and service, he once said, “We must speak to them with our hands, before we try to speak to them with our lips.”
In the face of great evil and suffering, we may feel overwhelmed. Peter Claver reminds us of the profound difference that one person acting compassionately can make.
Collect for Peter Claver
God of grace and glory, we praise you for your servant Peter Claver, who made the good news known in Colombia. Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds of the gospel, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of your love, and be drawn to worship you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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308 comments on “Anna Alexander vs. Peter Claver”
I voted for the deacon
This was a ver tough choice for me. Two people doing wonderful things in support of those essentially impacted by the slave trade.
Wow! Two amazing saints. They both worked in kindness and hope in extremely difficult situations. I voted for Peter Claver but will happily vote for Anna Alexander in the next round. Thanks for introducing me to these two historical figures whom I had not met in over 20 years of studying and teaching World, European, and US history.
As a Deacon; in Georgia this was an easy choice for me; however, I have long been inspired by Anna’s story. She is a classic example of what it means to be a Deacon.
Someone needs to address this "embarrassment" but it's not going to be me. I'm remembering Anna's words on anger.
See my post following yours. We agree Dutton in GA
This was not a difficult choice for me. A Jesuit, or an African American Episcopal Deacon. I am compelled to vote for Anna because of the struggle she must have endured to take a leadership position in her church.
As an African-American woman, I thought both candidates were worthy, but I decided on Peter. The very act of seeing humanity in those who were considered mere pieces of property would still have been a radical act for his time. Never forget that certain Bible passages were cherry-picked in support of slavery - Matthew 24:46 as one example. I'll take a shot across the bow for those times - wherever I can find it.
I am honoured to make the acquaintance of these two wonderful saints today. It was a hard choice, but I voted for Anna, for her parents bravery and courage, and commitment to education, and for Anna, whose ministry was recognised against all the odds.
I voted for the Deacon Anna because she helped to educate others and bring change under challenging circumstances in a male dominanted leadership in the church.
I did a bit more reading. Peter Claver's ministry has echoes in the life's work of Teresa of Calcutta and Damian of Moloka'i -- he cast his lot and fate in with the untouchables of his day, recognizing their humanity and setting an example by doing so. In seasons when the slave ships were not arriving, he went throughout the the region, ministering to and teaching slaves at plantations. He chose to stay in the slave quarters rather than being hosted by the slaveholders and overseers. No doubt it was during these sojourns that he baptized over 300,000 over 40 years, in part ensuring that the "Christian" slaveholders would be constrained to treat their slaves more humanely. No, he didn't singlehandedly dismantle the entrenched sin of slavery, which sadly is still practiced in numerous ways and places. But he did bring us closer to the dawn which will finally come when all people will look into each other's eyes and see only brothers and sisters. In Colombia the national Human Rights Day is dated in his honor, and the US-based Knights of Peter Claver is the largest African-American Roman Catholic fraternal organization. I am thankful to learn about him and cast my vote for him. And since as usual I seem to be supporting the underdog, I will be happy to have the opportunity to back Anna Alexander in a future round!
Peter got our vote because his hands were truly acting as the hands of Jesus in caring for the slaves.
We are voting for Anna because Epworth by the Sea on St Simons is our favorite place in the world, and we love her commitment to children and education. But it’s hard to turn down the amazing Peter who exhibited a servant’s heart. I hope he comes up again so we can vote for him next time!
Earlier today a contributor rightly questioned whether it were possible to be a slave voluntarily. Peter, writing in Latin, signed himself “servus servorum,” using the same word for himself and those to whom he ministered. Latin in fact has only the one word that translates as both “slave” and “servant,” any person taking orders from a master. I understand the same is true of New Testament Greek which, since our service to God is voluntary, is why the tendency in newer New Testament translations to use “slave” instead of the traditional “servant” creates about as many problems as it solves.
I’m quite out of my depth by now, but it seems to me that freedom as we think of it is a rather recent idea. In ancient times, and I imagine also in sixteenth-century Spain, few people were free to work at whatever and for whomever they pleased. The fact that a servant was legally free to quit and a slave wasn’t seems not to have made enough practical difference to require two words to reflect the distinction. We may see that as a defect, but it permitted Peter to express identity with those he served in a way that we cannot.
Thank you, Davis. I believe the word Mary uses in the Magnificat is "doula": Behold the handmaid of the lord. Doula translates as "slave." Mary is not the "handmaid" but the slave of the lord. Powerful model for us today as we struggle with issues of being a post-slavery culture that yet is deeply bound by slavery in all aspects of our lives. I totally agree that "freedom" is a concept we need to grapple with very consciously and very seriously, together, if we are to survive as a democracy. All of us.
I’d say that “doula” translated as both “slave and “handmaiden.” “Slave” more accurately reflects the totality of Mary’s submission; but it obscures its voluntary nature, of at least equal importance to the story. At least for those of us that don’t accept the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mary could have dismissed Gabriel at that moment, and the salvation of the world hung on her decision.
At least for me “slave” has such connotations of coercion, not to say violence, that it jars when it’s applied to people like Mary and Paul, which is why I’m ambivalent about it. Enslavement is the opposite of what God is about, as I know you agree.
Not sure if I am allowed to post a link here. But there is a marvelous and tragic new about out about the people who claimed to own Anna's family, and countless other people and how they sold them. This is the author's link. http://annecbailey.blogspot.com/2017/06/introducing-my-new-book-weeping-time.html
I've always loved Peter Claver's deep compassion, empathy and humble service to others, especially to those who were despised and oppressed. He is a shining example of Christ-like love for the least of the brothers and sisters, an example to emulate especially for those of us who have led privileged or relatively privileged lives. Yet I had to vote for Anna Alexander, whose story was new to me, but so compelling. By the grace and love of God Anna herself overcame the worst sort of oppression and injustice to accomplish great things for her community while radiating the love of Jesus.
I'd never heard of either of these wondrous people. That's why I love Lent Madness! Thank you for making the matchups much more balanced this year. No more modern saints vs. quasi-legends in the first round - yes!!!
This was a difficult decision. Both patron saints were saintly (pardon the pun) in their work.
Definitely Peter...his influence in the slavery trade is commendable and should always be reconized.
I cannot believe Peter Claver is so far behind. If for no other reason folks, he baptized 300,000 souls! Think of it, 300,000 souls. I'm dumbfounded.
A hard choice. But...my family had deep connections with the deaconesses, so Anna it was. I wanted to put pictures in this comment but I couldn't figure out how to upload them, so I put them on my own fb. They are a picture of the head deaconess at the Episcopal girls school in Wuhan, China, circa 1915, and her diaconate pin. My aunt taught with her.
This was tough. Both are such great examples of fortitude and courage!
Anna squeaked past to get my vote!
I voted for Anna. I think mainly because she seemed to have the better write-up. Perhaps it was just because I read hers first.
Peter fought slavery by subversive means by instilling a sense of their human dignityand preciousness in the eyes of God in direct opposition to the men of commerce. Not only that, but he also preached to the "masters" for, as quoted "he did not regard even the most brutal of slave-owners as despicable barbarians beyond the mercy of God..." I call that opposition.
I love San Pedro Claver for his work in Cartagena. I have visited his remains in the church there. I continue in his mission by serving this March to descendants of slaves in the village of Ararca. May he pray for us who are going.